Fasting = (AlSawm)

Q: What is the importance of Ramadan (The month of fasting)?A: The month of Ramadan in which the Qur'an was sent down as a Right Guidance (to Allah = Huda) to
humanity (= LilNas) and as eye-opening proofs (Bayyenat) of the Right Guidance and the Criterion to
differentiate right from wrong - so whoever from you is present this month he must fast - and who is
sick or is traveling then other days should be made up - Allah (by fasting) wants for you easiness and does not want
for you hardship - and complete the required days and glorify Allah for what he had guided you to and maybe you become
thankful.Translation of: Ayat 185, Surat AlBaqarah. (2:185)Words: Shahr = month, Ramadan = Fasting month, Unzila = Sent down, Huda = Right
Guidance (not wrong guidance), Bayyenat = As eye-opening proofs -
Evidences - As Explaining messages, AlHuda = The Right Guidance, AlFurqan = The Criterion to
differentiate right from wrong, Yassum = Fasts, Mareedh = Sick, Ala Safar
= Traveling, Ayam = Other days, AlYusr = Easiness, AlUsr = Hardship - Difficulty.

Q: Besides fasting and praying what should we do in Ramadan?A: And if My people ask you (Prophet Muhammad) about Me (say) then I am Near answering the call of the
caller if he calls Me so they should answer My Call (= Yastajeebou Li) and believe in Me (Allah) perhaps they become well
guided (in life especially to Allah's Path).Translation of: Ayat 186, Surat AlBaqarah. (2:186) Words: Sa'alaka = Asked you, Ibaadi = My people, Qareebun = Near, Ujeebu = Answering - Listening,
Da'wata = Request, Da'ai = Calls Me, Yu'minou, = Believe (plural), Yurshudoun = Be well guided - Become mature.

Q: Why is fasting a Mercy from Allah upon the believers?A: Counted days (of Ramadan) so whoever from you is sick or is travelling so other days should be made up
and those who have no strength for it a ransom of one poor person's food and
who gives voluntarily charity it is better for him >and to fast is better for you (plural) if only you knew. Translation of: Ayah 184, Surat ABaqarah.Words: Ayam = Days, Ma'doudat = Counted, Mareedh = Sick, Ayam = Days, Yateeq = Has no strength for it, Fidyah = Ransom, Ta'am = Food,
Miskeen = Poor, Khair = Charity, Khairun lahu = Better for him, Tat'tawa' = Gives voluntarily,
Tasoumou = You fast.

Q: Besides fasting, what does Allah allow in Ramadan?A: It has been permitted to you (plural) , on the night of the fasting, to approach your wives; they are
your relief and you are their relief. Allah has known that you were cheating among
yourselves, so Allah accepted your repentance and forgave you; so now you can have sexual intercourse with them
and seek what Allah has prescribed to you; and eat and drink until the white thread becomes clear from
the black thread at dawn; then complete your fasting until the night; and do not have sexual intercourse with them (your
wives) when you are staying in mosques (Aakifoun), those are the forbidden limits from Allah so do not come
near them. That is how Allah makes his lines clear to people; perhaps they might be in awe (of Allah).Translation of: Ayah 187, Surat ABaqarah.
Words: Uhilla = It has been permitted, Laylat AlSiyam = The night of the fasting, AlRafath =
Approach (sexual talk during intercourse), Nisa' = Wives, Libas = Relief, Takhtan = Cheat,
Taba = Accepted your repentance, Afa = Forgave, Bashir = Have a sexual intercourse, Kataba =
Prescribed - Dictated, Kul = Eat, Ishrab = Drink, Yatabayin = Becomes clear, AlKhait =
the thread, AlAbyadh = The white, AlAswad = The black, AlFajr = The Dawn, A'kif = Staying in
the mosque (for the last days of Ramadan). Hudud = Forbidden limits, Taqrabouha = Come near them,
Yattaqoun = Be in awe.

Q: Is Fasting dictated upon Muslims only?A: O people who believe fasting is dictated upon you as it was dictated upon those before
you (Jews and Christians) so that you may protect yourselves (by fearing Allah).Translation of: Ayah 183, Surat AlBaqarah.Note: Last year some Muslims in Toronto started Ramadan on August 11th while others on August
12th, 2010.Note in the following translation of a saying of the Prophet Muhammad
that the Prophet said fast on account of
viewing the crescent (= liRou'yatihi) (by anyone) and did not say "fast
when you view it".Note: In a translation of a saying of the Prophet Muhammad: Fast (begin Ramadan) at the time of
viewing it (on account of viewing the Crescent of Ramadan) and break the Fast (Ramadan ends) at the time of viewing
it (Crescent of Shawwal) but if it (crescent) is covered from you (all) then complete the duration of
Sha'ban thirty days. (= Soumou liRou'yatihi waAftirou LiRou'yatihi faIn gabiyya (or ghumma)
alikum faAkmilou Iddata Sha'ban thirty days. Source: Riyadh AlSaliheen Min Kalam Sayed AlMursaleen. In Arabic, page
348. And another source:Tafseer Ibn Kastheer, Volume 1, Page 328.Words: Kutiba = Is dictated, AlSiyam = Fasting, Qablikum = Before
you, Tatatqoun = Protect yourselves by fearing Allah.

Q: What are the (12) cresent moons per Islamic year?A: They ask you about the crescent moons say (command to Prophet Muhammad) they are
timekeepers* for people and the Pilgrimage - and it is not of virtue to enter houses from
their back (doors)** but virtuousness is whoever protects himself (by fearing Allah) - and do
enter the houses from their (front) doors and protect yourselves by fearing Allah so that you
may prosper.Translation of: Ayah 189, Surat AlBaqarah.
* The moon is to teach us counting and keeping track of
years. Its beginning should not be an issue of disagreement among Muslim groups.
(Muslims differ because of a misunderstanding in the interpretation of a saying of the Prophet Muhammad).
** Pre-Islamic tradition of Arabs of Arabia who thought it is more virtuous to
enter the house from the back when coming back from travel. Source: Tafseer Ibn
Kastheer, Volume 1, Page 328.Note: Muslims in Metro Toronto/Canada fasted the same day of the year 2011 but they again
differed in ending it. Some communities for example Bengalis and Arabs here are celebrating it on Tuesday 30
August as is the case in the majority of the Arabian Peninsula. Some other communities like
Indians and Pakistanis are going to celebrate it on Wednesday 31 August so they fast 30 days. (Some
use astronomical technology or follow others who saw the new crescent moon that ends Ramadan. Others
insist on seeing it in their vicinity). Also note that the time difference does not interfere with when Eid
should be celebrated. If the the East has a Tuesday morning the West has also a Tuesday morning).
May Allah guide us all.Words: Yasalounaka = They ask you, AlAhillah = The crescent moons, Mawaqeet
= Timekeepers - Determining the time, Laysa AlBir = It it not of virtue, Ta'tou =
To enter, AlBoyout = The houses, Dhohouriha = From their back, Tuflihoun = You prosper.

Q: What other type of fasting were some pious believers commanded by Allah to perform as a Special
Sign of obedience of Allah's Commands?Note: Please read first the translation of the preceding Lines
1 - 9 in Surat Maryam.A: He (Zacharia) said my God give me a Sign - He (Allah) said your Sign is that you
do not talk to people for three nights (days) together.Translation of: Ayah 10, Surat Maryam. (19:10)Words: Ej'al li = Give me, Sthlalth = Three, Layal = Nights,
Sawiyya = Together.